María Cornejo: Latino sensibility in Michelle Obama’s closet

Chilean designer María Cornejo.

Who says these are dark times? Michelle Obama’s White House wardrobe has helped brighten up the fashion industry — especially for three Latino designers.

Cuban-American Narciso Rodríguez and Cuban Isabel Toledo have already made their splash, outfitting the First Lady on various occasions, including on Election Night and Inauguration Day, but rounding up the New York trio of Latin designers is Chilean María Cornejo.

"She [Obama] has shown that you don’t have to dress like your grandmother if you are in the White House," says the 47-year-old Cornejo, known for her brand Zero Maria Cornejo. "You don’t have to dress according to the rules but dress in a way that feels like you."

Obama, who made a splash over the weekend with the release of her official White House portrait, wore a purple jacket designed by Cornejo on the train tour to Washington two days before the inauguration.

She also appeared on Comedy Central in the fall dressed in a Cornejo blue skirt and jacket with a blue belt. And, on a campaign stop, in a black jacket with a white-and-black flower design.

"It definitely has not hurt that the First Lady is wearing your clothes. It is making people more aware," says the designer in a thick British accent, before adding that the whole White House experience is "very flattering."

Her colleague Toledo agrees, and adds that she’s "blessed" to be working among friends.

"I know both Narciso and María very well," said Toledo, who designed Obama’s pale yellow inaugural outfit, "and I feel we all bring something unique to fashion and to Mrs. Obama."

"I love that our new First Lady is tuned in to our Latino sensibility," she added.